M48TANKER

With a little TLC it could look better.

Orlando, I hope that someone has a few extras to sell. Several of us have been making our own over the years. I made a couple for myself from the steel banding that sometimes comes clamped around pallets, cartons, etc. I got my donor material from the local lumber company. You should find this banding at most any retail store as scrap. I had to anneal (heat) the banding in order to bend it to shape. Then heat it again to return it to it's former hardness. Let us know what works for you.

What Brian said. You might be able to get the stock screw here; https://www.gunpartscorp.com/gun-manufacturer/johnson/semi-auto-1941?page=3

Here is one to watch: https://www.gunbroker.com/item/794713115

I was watching this auction but got busy hunting Indian artifacts. Now, I've just noticed that the barrel has been sold for $1505.00 plus $20.00 shipping. Well, it's time for me to start thinning the herd. Maybe it's time for me to sell a couple of my spare barrels? I have a Chilean Contract barrel in 7mm Mauser. This barrel is all military and in pristine shape. My other barrel has a 1941 JSAR locking lug bushing, center guide collar, bayonet lug, and military sight...all mounted on a 30.06 Springfield 1903A3 used barrel. The chamber is nice and smooth and the bore is shiny with slightly worn lands and grooves indicative of it's age. For the right price I would sell one of the 100% JSAR 30.06 barrels from one of my other collector rifles. It would have all the correct markings and be in better cosmetic condition than the one that just sold on Gunbroker. I like both my spare barrels and would be proud to swap them onto any of my rifles. Just contact me to discuss price or trade options. "michaeleroper@comcast.net"

Brian, Yes, I remember that auction well. I can empathize with bidders caught up in such a bidding war. Never had the money for that type of contest but I've been tempted to pay far more than something is worth a time or two. As you said, if you have the money and want something bad enough....who is to judge?

Happy Thanksgiving to you also Ed, and to all our Johnson site users. Our Nation has been blessed with freedoms which no other nation possesses and we should be Thankful for those. That's what Thanksgiving Day is all about. We owe a big debt of gratitude to the Melvin Maynard Johnson family. Their innovative designs for the weapons we've used to secure those freedoms, endure to this day. Use this occasion to remind your family and friends that the 1941 Johnson is one of the firearms that secured those freedoms and prosperity for us. Peace can only be defended by superior firepower, and the grace of God. Pray for World Peace so our weapons remain collectors' items.

Mr. Joseph Scott will be able to tell you if it's possible. I don't think he works on barrels anymore.

WOW......I bought one of the new manufactured main spring recoil tubes from Garry....aka.."dagarbuz." I don't know who his machinist is, but the guy produced an absolutely PERFECT copy of a 1941 Johnson recoil spring tube. To say that it is perfect in all respects is an understatement. If anyone anticipates the need for a recoil tube, even in the future, you should get in on this offer. Well done!

Joe, could you post that 1939 drawing of the butt plate with trap door? I'd like to see that.

Obviously the one on the left is newer. It still exhibits the circular machining marks and fairly crisp stampings. The barreled one on the right is used but most likely not really worn out. It's just been around and used for years. If it's not giving any problems with lock up, I'd just keep using it. I've seen one which was a LOT worse and still in service. If you replace the one on the right, you can send me the one old one. I can always use another.

Roverboy, I might have one left? I'll look for it and try to let you know.

Garry, thank you for making the recoil tubes available. The availability of a recoil tube has allowed me to sell the stock set which I've been advertising! THANKS. I've finished another stock set and will be wanting a recoil tube for that one. This is the last of my stock sets and it will be available for the same price. If anyone buys this stock set and needs a recoil tube for it......we can work something out in order to get another tube from Garry. Per our emails, there is a check on it's way to you for one of your excellent recoil tubes. Thanks for thinking of others when you needed one for yourself!

Can we all breath now?

This stock has been sold. I will have another ready soon if there is any interest. I have a re-finished 1941 Johnson stock and forearm for sale for $600.00 plus shipping. This is an old Winfield Sporter stock which I reshaped to military configuration. It has some very interesting grain in the wood that makes you wonder if this tree grew near Chernobyl ? The finish is much too glossy for my taste but if you want to make it look like it just came off the battlefield, that is up to you. Take some steel wool and remove the sheen. Roll it in some rocks and beat it with a Johnson bayonet. Bury it in some mud for a week. You know what to do! I chose to give it a slick finish for those who might want it to shine. Going from slick to dinged and dented is easily done but not the other way around. There is no metal included. If you need all the metal.....I may be able to find some. If you are just switching stocks then you will have all the stuff you'll need. If you need your recoil tube removed from your old stock....I can help there too. Please respond by my email: "michaeleroper@comcast.net"

After completely refreshing my memory: I now pronounce these two bayonets to be Originals (in my humble opinion.....for what that's worth)

Hey Harry, Thanks, that the best reference we have. I've almost worn that link out over the years. There are just some bayonets that don't follow all the rules. I do know that at one time Sarco was selling the reproduced bayonets that were well done and they listed them as reproductions. Numrich also sold the domed rivets and proper flatter arched spring. So these two areas could be modified. The muzzle ring can be much heavier on the reproductions also. The spring latch has a couple of "ears" that are usually square cut on the repros and more rounded on the originals. The way the rivet is peened can be altered too. When a bayonet meets every criteria and the sheath does also, it's usually easy to pronounce them as original. There are just some that are ever so slightly off. These are the ones that cause me to wonder. c

I vote for authenticity. There are some differences between the two in the manufacturing process used. In your last picture, the side view, the flatter shape of the spring looks like the originals. However there are "machining" marks on the one on the right that are not apparent on the one on the left. Now a question for the real experts: Were all Johnson bayonets made by the same manufacturer, in same fashion, using the same methods and materials? From the pictures it would seem that they were not

Cosmo, I'm not the expert but they have most of the characteristics of being original. I could guess a bit better if you posted a side view so we could see the depth of the arch in the spring.

Rifleman, If someone is trying to "re-militarize" a Winfield Deluxe Sporter, they often just dispose of the Winfield stock with it's cheekpiece, larger heel, and rubber buttpad. Getting the recoil tube out of a Winfield stock, or any older stock, can involve destroying the donor stock just to get the tube out. My preference is to re-shape the Winfield stock. It can take a fair amount of woodworking skill, sanding equipment, and elbow grease to get the job done. Since original stocks are very scarce and pricey when you do find one....reforming the stock you already have is a viable option. I actually enjoy making a "silk purse out of a sow's ear." I feel sure that some of the members of this community have old Winfield stocks squirreled away due to lack of demand for them. At one time I remember Joe Scott said he couldn't give the old stocks away. Now with the possibility of access to new stocks made on a duplicator, and you guys being able to make new recoil spring tubes.....things are looking better for replacement stocks in the future. Hi Bob, I once researched a lot of online "reviews" by people who had dealt with some of the existing stock duplicators. One fellow had retired and sold his equipment to someone else, leaving a big void in the supply. I was afraid that you might get less than you bargained for. I've given some thought as to how to go about drilling the mainspring tube hole. It seems to me that it will require some sort of fixture or jig to hold the stock and drill bit in relative position. I'm going to see if I can figure out a way to drill that hole without taking a chance on wrecking the new stock..

I really hate it when the "armory" repair "technicians" don't make the slightest attempt to match the grain in those repair "plugs" what-so-ever! I'm not even sure why they would use plugs where they did. Maybe they thought the "cheeks" were going to fall off? Perhaps Loctite Super Glue hadn't been invented back then. (or maybe those were bullet holes?) Even so, I think they had the old time glue made from defunct race horses.....even "Elmers Glue" would probably have worked? Glue it ....put the stock in a wood vice and let it dry. The "plugs" in Winfield Sporter stocks, which hide the recoil key for the recoil buffer tube, are sometime done so well that an untrained eye can't find them. I sort of wish I had a chance to do a proper repair to that stock just to show how it's supposed to be done. Of course I did notice the "fit" of the buttplate and that brass screw. Even as shaky as my old hands are, I wouldn't butcher the taper pins in the front sight and bayonet lug! Other than those very minor flaws......The rifle could be an extraordinary specimen. Nothing there which can't be fixed. That sling is not a cheepie either and I'd love to have it.

I've had good luck reshaping the sporter stocks into military configuration. I've done several. Check my gallery photos to see one which I've done. If you have a sporter stock it's possible to have it re-configured. I retired after spending nearly 50 years as a carpenter. The Winfield Deluxe Sporter stock below has been refinished after shaping. Might be a bit too glossy but that can be remedied with some fine steel wool. Or remove most of the finish and beat the thing up a bit yourself. The wood has a really odd grain pattern.......might have come from near Chernobyl.

This is in no way any type of accusation! I am only pointing out a "strange looking area" on the receiver. Whenever there is any discoloration or "damage" or oddity in the serial number area.....I'm always curious. Now I'm not saying anything is wrong with the receiver, since it could be my overactive imagination. I, for one, wouldn't touch it with a ten foot light sabre. Do any of you see what I'm trying to point out? Is this something that could have been done at the factory? How about being done overseas? Just saying................... This is in no way any type of accusation! I am only pointing out a "strange looking area" on the receiver.

aVian, Welcome to the Johnson message board. Congratulations on your solution. Others have had to do the same thing, similar to the ejection port door on an M16. Like you, I've kept my eyes open for any Johnson magazine spring. A couple of our long time members have fabricated their own springs to match the originals as close as possible. You have to wonder if somewhere, in a dusty warehouse, in the dark and forgotten....is there a 55 gallon drum of Johnson magazine door springs? I think I'd buy the whole barrel full if I could find it! I know you'll enjoy the 1941 Johnson and will be a frequent reader of the message board. Here you will find a wealth of information on Johnsons and some very knowledgeable collectors. A few of us even have some parts squirreled away. M48TANKER